Can you tune a B string to D?

[davidmpires]

What it says on the title.
I have to learn a new song for the band that involves drop D, although I have the B string, fingering wise would be alot easier if I had the B string tuned to D. I don't really want to detune just for one song.

The song is Slither btw

Anyone plays it on a 5 string?

Thanks

[Protium]

Personally I wouldn't try higher than a .115 tuning to D, considering I usually use .100
Can't you tune the E down to D?

[davidmpires]

[quote name='Protium' post='715116' date='Jan 16 2010, 07:15 PM']Personally I wouldn't try higher than a .115 tuning to D, considering I usually use .100
Can't you tune the E down to D?[/quote]

Sure I can but I want to avoid stopping to do that just for one song

[d-basser]

I would detune the E or learn it from 3rd on the B, something like

--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
------------------3------------------
----1-2---4-5------4-5---3---1-2-
--3-----3------3--------3---3-------

When I played it on a 6 I detuned my E to D and B to A

Edited January 16, 2010 by d-basser

[Protium]

[quote name='d-basser' post='715121' date='Jan 16 2010, 07:22 PM']I would detune the E or learn it from 3rd on the B

When I played it on a 6 I detuned my E to D and B to A[/quote]

+1, I used to tune my 5 to ADADG which is probably what destroyed my 10W practice amp

[davidmpires]

[quote name='d-basser' post='715121' date='Jan 16 2010, 07:22 PM']I would detune the E or learn it from 3rd on the B, something like

--------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
------------------3------------------
----1-2---4-5------4-5---3---1-2-
--3-----3------3--------3---3-------

When I played it on a 6 I detuned my E to D and B to A[/quote]

Yeah I've been playing that way now, but it doesn't sound the same, I think i need to tidy up. Thanks guys

[Sarah5string]

I used to cover this. I found fretting it on the B was a hell of a job seeing as it's fast and as you said, doesn't sound the same. I'd be worried about the neck tension tuning the B to D, hence why I just did BDADG for the one song save risking it.

[dannybuoy]

You could try a capo on the 3rd fret - instead D standard tuning!

[davidmpires]

[quote name='Sarah5string' post='715168' date='Jan 16 2010, 08:27 PM']I used to cover this. I found fretting it on the B was a hell of a job seeing as it's fast and as you said, doesn't sound the same. I'd be worried about the neck tension tuning the B to D, hence why I just did BDADG for the one song save risking it.[/quote]

We'll see how it goes on monday at rehearsals. I've learned both ways to be able to switch and play the way it sounds best.

[NickH]

An expensive option, but maybe good if you could use it for other drop-D stuff, it to pop a D-tuner in there.

(Please dear God nobody post any Michael Manring vids up. We've all seen them now, thanks)

[davidmpires]

Oh I know what you mean like what Maring does, don't know if you ever heard of him?

Nah i'm skint and I don't really want to go that route for one song. But thanks for reminding me of Manring, I'm off to Youtube

[witterth]

[quote name='dannybuoy' post='715214' date='Jan 16 2010, 09:23 PM']You could try a capo on the 3rd fret - instead D standard tuning![/quote]
capo ..... on a bass ......????

see what BC wars that can cause!

cant remember the thread title now but ...boy... some guys got cross about that one.....not bothered mesen ...just DONT

[Higgie]

Just drop the E down to D. Easy fingering, and sounds better. Is it REALLY that much hassle just to drop the string a tone for one song and then back up again?

[chardbass]

Drop D is pretty quick and simple- you can almost do it by eye.
I had it down to a fine art when I played 4 string. Think it was a quarter or half turn.

[budget bassist]

yeah in my old band we went from D standard to drop C quite regularly and it got quite easy for me to do it by ear once i figured out how much i needed to turn the peg.

[WarPig]

Do you use the B-E on the B string? If not then maybe try a thicker guage E string and tune it to D, giving DEADG?

[davidmpires]

Yeah I do use it. I think I'll just have to detune and get use to it. I'm worried that I might take too long, and we have a really good in March and I don't want to screw it up by leaving the others waiting.

[KevB]

You could always just pick up a cheap S/H 4 string and have it pretuned to drop D. Most players take a back up bass to gigs which they don't use 99% of the time so have one that you do use. You can then retune it back to normal in the break if you do 2 sets then it will be there as a 'normal' backup for one set.

[davidmpires]

I just bought a Boss TU-3, my first pedal in years.

[Maverick]

I'd just go with dropping the E string to D for the song, probably the easiest solution.

Does the guitarist not have to re-tune? If he does then I can almost guarantee that you won't be the one they end up waiting for.

Edited January 18, 2010 by Maverick

[KennysFord]

[quote name='witterth' post='715342' date='Jan 17 2010, 12:13 AM']capo ..... on a bass ......????

see what BC wars that can cause!

cant remember the thread title now but ...boy... some guys got cross about that one.....not bothered mesen ...just DONT [/quote]
Best keep my trap shut then

[Veils]

+1 for ADADG - that's how I used to tune in a previous band.

Also, I would have thought that tuning your E surely only takes a few seconds?